BIBLE CONVERSIONS

    Conversion: "an experience associated with a definite and decisive
    adoption of a religion." From Webster's Ninth Collegiate Dictionary,
    page 286

    Almost everyone has a memory of school days when a teacher read a
    rule in arithmetic, then went to the chalkboard to demonstrate how
    the rule was applied. In a similar way Jesus announced the rule for
    salvation in Mark 16:16 when He said "He that believeth and is
    baptized shall be saved..." Fortunately, we have several examples how
    this rule is applied. In the book of Acts the accounts of the
    conversions serve to show how the rule applies.

    1. Conversions on Pentecost (Acts 2).
       Here Peter announced Jesus to be Lord and Savior. When those who
    heard were convinced he was preaching the truth, they asked, "Men [and]
    brethren, what shall we do?" Peter answered, "Repent, and be baptized
    every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins,
    and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." Three thousand were
    baptized that day (Acts 2:41), and the Lord added these who were saved
    to His church (Acts 2:47).

    2. The Conversion of the Ethiopian (Acts 8:26-40).
       This man was returning to Ethiopia from Jerusalem where he had
    gone to worship. As he was traveling he was reading from the book of
    Isaiah. A preacher at the side of the road asked him if he understood
    what he was reading and then joined him in the chariot in which the
    Ethiopian was riding. He then spoke to him of Jesus. The seeker
    believed what he heard and asked if anything hindered him from being
    baptized. After the baptism each went his own way.

    3. The Conversion of Saul (Acts 10).
       This persecutor of Christians was on his way to Damascus when he
    blinded by a bright light above. The Lord then spoke to him and told
    him to enter Damascus where he would be told what he should do. He
    did as he was told. In time, Ananias, a disciple, came to him and
    said, "Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the
    name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16). This, he did.

    4. The Conversion of Cornelius (Acts 10).
       A Gentile centurion who was already a believer in God was told to
    send for a preacher who would tell him what he should do. When Peter
    arrived he preached that God is no respecter of persons and that
    Jesus is Lord of all. He commanded Cornelius to be baptized in the
    name of Christ, which he did (Acts 10:48).

    5. The Conversion of Lydia (Acts 16:13-15).
       This business woman from Thyatira attended a prayer meeting and so
    did Paul. When she heard him she was receptive to what he taught and
    was baptized (Acts 16:15)

    6. The Conversion of thee Jailor (Acts 16:23-34).
       Paul and Silas had been put into prison in Philippi and at
    midnight there was an earthquake. The jailor assumed that the
    prisoners escaped. When he met Paul and Silas he asked, "Sirs, what
    must I do to be saved?" Paul told him to "Believe on the Lord Jesus
    Christ and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." He was baptized the
    same hour of the night (Acts 16:33)

       The rule in Mark 16:16 called for faith and baptism. In these
    cases of conversion we see how this is applied. In each case there
    was both faith and baptism followed by salvation. The examples show
    how the apostles applied the rule given by Jesus.

      Jesus had also announced men must repent of their sins (Lk. 13:3),
    and confess Him, (Matt.10:32). These too are reported (Acts 2:38;
    8:36,37). Thus the conditions announced by Jesus (Faith, Repentance,
    Confession and Baptism) are demonstrated in the cases of conversion
    in the book of Acts.

       The fact every condition isn't named in each case does not mean
    some conditions were waived. Repentance is called for in Acts 2:38
    for those on Pentecost. It isn't mentioned in the case of the jailor.
    This doesn't mean the jailor was pardoned without repentance.
    Sometimes one condition may, by a figure of speech, be used to stand
    for all, as in the case of believe in Acts 16:31. The jailor was to
    meet every condition, which means he also had to repent, confess and
    be baptized. We should take note that baptism is mentioned in every
    case of conversion that has been discussed.

       To be saved today one must obey the words of Jesus by believing,
    repenting, confessing and being baptized.

       We have read the rule in Mark 16:16. We have seen how it is
    applied in the days of the apostles. There is no reason to believe
    the plan of salvation was ever changed so that some today can be
    saved by faith alone without water baptism and that others can be
    saved by repenting and praying for God to forgive them of their alien
    sins. If our conversion is unlike those in the book of Acts we need
    to rexamine the record. It may be that we have been advised to do
    something God's book does not approve. Where we spend eternity is too
    important for us to be unsure about our conversion.

                        -Delton Haun-


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    Copyright by Haun Publishing Co. P.O.Box 3426 Pasadena, Texas 77501



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